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Brazil Appoints First Female Agriculture Minister

BRAZIL - Senator Katia Abreu has taken over from the former minister, Neri Geller, as the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture.

Ms Abreu is the first female Minister of Agriculture.

During her speech, the new Minister said she hopes to expand the Brazilian rural middle class.

"We set a goal of doubling the rural middle class over the next four years. Brazil now has more than five million farmers, and 70 per cent in classes D and E, six per cent in classes A and B, and only 15 per cent, approximately 800,000 producers in the C class," she said.

Ms Abreu also commented that it will be important to consolidate a national plan for agricultural defence.

"We want technical strength to ensure reliability for our customers in Brazil and worldwide. The goal is to ensure standardisation, transparency and security," she explained.

In farewell speech, Neri Geller praised the appointment of Senator Katia Abreu to the position and assessed it as a positive action towards the department's development.